Richard Lamar Rutledge of Culbertson made a not guilty plea to the federal charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan in Billings last week. If convicted of the most serious News crime, Rutledge faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Rutledge was detained pending further proceedings.

Roosevelt County reported 14 active COVID cases as of Friday, Jan. 13. There have been 3,927 total cases in the county. Roosevelt County Health Department hosts COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Wolf Point the first and third Thursdays of the month, and in Culbertson on the fourth Thursday. Clinics for children 5-11 years of age are held every three weeks on Fridays. Call 406-653-6223 for a COVID vaccine

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Community Agriculture Initiative. This initiative supports the conservation efforts of Montana’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners from small acreage to large. NRCS accepts applications year-round, but applications for the current funding cycle must be submitted by Feb. 14. “Agricultural producers